After being unable to strike a new deal with Tampa Bay, Manager Joe Maddon exercised an out clause in his contract. But that doesn’t mean he’ll soon be joining new Dodgers executive Andrew Friedman, his former boss in Florida.

In a surprise move Friday morning, Joe Maddon opted out of his contract to manage the Tampa Bay Rays in 2015, amping up speculation he could be the choice of new Dodgers decision-maker Andrew Friedman to replace Manager Don Mattingly.

Friedman and Maddon worked together to great success with the Rays since 2006, netting five 90-win seasons in nine tries despite consistently below-average payrolls.

But Friedman, the Dodgers’ new president of baseball operations, issued a statement Friday reaffirming his commitment to Mattingly.

“As I said last week, Joe and I enjoyed a tremendous relationship working together in Tampa Bay and I wish him nothing but the best wherever his next stop will be,” Friedman said. “However, nothing has changed on our end. Don Mattingly will be our manager next season and hopfully for a long time to come.”

Team president Stan Kasten said in a text message the Dodgers are “absolutely” committed to Mattingly.

Shortly after he was hired by the Dodgers, Friedman backed Mattingly to be the Dodgers’ manager for a fifth season in 2015. He’s under contract until the end of 2016.

“We’re very aligned on a lot of things philosophically and have thoroughly enjoyed those conversations,” Friedman said of himself and Mattingly. “We’re going to get together next week and I’ll look forward to building that relationship.”

Meanwhile, Maddon said at the same time he would not be leaving Tampa Bay, where he had managed the last nine seasons.

“I’m a Ray, I’ve said it all along,” Maddon told local reporters last week. “I want to continue to be one.”

Rays president of baseball operations Matt Silverman revealed Friday that Maddon’s opt-out clause was activated when Friedman left the organization.

“And we engaged and made many offers and it became clear from his responses that it was not an exercise that was going to lead to an outcome, so he opted out yesterday,” Silverman said. “And we are turning the page to begin the process to look for a new manager.

Maddon told the New York Post he wasn’t aware of the opt-out clause until Silverman told him. And the longtime manager and former Angels bench coach told the Tampa Bay Times he was “too far apart” with the Rays on a potential new long-term contract.

His deal was set to expire after 2015.

Mattingly received an extension through 2016 last winter after he complained in a postseason news conference that unnamed members of the Dodgers organization made him a lame duck by not exercising his option for 2014.

Friedman reportedly will make $35 million over the next five years with the Dodgers – a significant bump from his salary with the Rays.

Maddon would likewise be in line to receive a significant bump from the $2 million he reportedly made annually in Tampa.

He could sit out the 2015 season, but that’s considered unlikely. It is more likely he will manage another team, such as the Chicago Cubs, or take a temporary broadcast gig, which he has done previously.

But if he decides to stay unemployed and the Dodgers don’t win next season, Mattingly will surely face further speculation about his status, even with one more year on his deal.

At his introductory news conference, Friedman described a relationship with Maddon that is close both personally and professionally.

“That being said, Joe is now working with (Rays president) Matt Silverman and baseball operations people there and I’m excited about working with Donnie,” Friedman said then. “I’m going into it with the mindset that we’re going to work together for a long time. I had one manager in the 10 years I’ve been doing this and I’m looking forward to working with Donnie for a long time.”